banker123

My fiance and I are planning a honeymoon for Indonesia for the middle of February. We have done some research on the Ritz (which got mixed reviews), the Four Seasons resorts (which got excellent reviews) and the Viceroy (which was a bit expensive for our taste). We're planning on flying from NYC and being over there for about 12 days or so. Any advice you could give us on:
(1) Potential itinerary
(2) Recommended hotels/resorts ($300-$700/night)
(3) Activities besides sitting by a pool/beach and "not-miss" sights
(4) Address any general safety concerns

Any and all suggestions/input is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Kathie

Are you planning on spending your whole time on Bali? (other options include a side trip to central Java or a side trip to Lombok)

Do buy yourself a Bali guidebook. There is so much to see and do in Bali you will certainly not want to spend all of your time on the beach or by the pool. Indeed, you will want to stay some of your time inland near Ubud. Many of the most memorable experiences are ones you cannot schedule... going through a small village with a specail festival, etc. You will want to hire a car and driver for part of yur time. Ther are a number of recommended drivers, and you'll find them in other posts.

Have you looked at others' trip reports on Bali or the answers other have gotten to sililar quations posted here? Do a search with the search box above and you'll get lots of info. Pay special attention to posts by Marmot, an American expat living in Jakarta.

jenskar

We spent ten days in Bali last January at both Four Seasons -- here's a link to our weblog with pictures, etc. It shows the day trips we did with our driver -- we covered a great deal of ground. We got a special deal with them so if I was paying full price for my hotel, I would also consider Amankila. There is also a hotel in Seminyak -- marmot has recommended that(great for dining out, as the 4S in Jimbaran means a taxi to everything other than the fish spots further down the beach).

http://web.mac.com/kitskarstrom/iWeb/Bali/Welcome.html

With the extra two days, I would want to go to Borobudur, which we missed. Don't set this up (or your driver) through the 4S -- their rates are silly and you can do better on your own.

Singapore Air is your best bet out of NYC (Newark have Executive Economy seating and a non-stop to Sing).

I really felt completely safe in Bali. Obviously your normal travel concerns about guarding your cash, etc. but I can't think of one time when I felt the least uncomfortable.

I'd second Kathie on Marmot's suggestions. Our day trips were highlights, also the dance performances we saw. You're going to have a great time !

kaneda

Someone said that if you go to Bali and spend all your time at a resort there, then you have not been to Bali.

$300-$700 a night? If you have too much money, why not stay in a reasonably priced hotel and give the rest to beggars?

Bali is more tourism than Indonesia. The tours are often like production line with one group leaving and another group arriving, all herded about like sheep. If you wanted to see Indonesia, Bali is not the place to go.

Kathie

kaneda, you certainly can see the Balinese culture in Bali. Other than the crowded beaches at Kuta and similar, Bali has retained it's unique culture to an amazing degree. And banker is not talking about taking bus tours.

marmot

Bali is to me one of the few places on earth where you can experience both profoundly beautiful nature and fascinating culture and arts. You will get so many diverse recommendations that it will make your head spin, which is, I think, a testimony to the many positive experiences. My advice would be to concentrate on the “where” first – i.e., which parts of Bali and how many days at each – then find the appropriate accommodation.

Many people are disappointed by Bali’s beaches. They are not the sparkling white sand limpid turquoise water variety. If that’s what you’re looking for go to Thailand or the Caribbean. There are several main beaches in South Bali, all of which have pluses and minuses. I personally don’t like Kuta (too tacky), Nusa Dua (too touristy), Sanur (too worn out). I’m okay with Jimbaran, but it’s becoming severely eroded.

My choice is Seminyak beach. It’s long and sandy, you can walk or run for miles, the waves are magnificent and the sunsets take your breath away. It’s also very close to Bali’s best area for restaurants, shops, spas, clubs. You can take advantage of civilization, then retreat to your oasis. The downsides are that it’s fairly well traveled and the surf can be quite aggressive.

On Seminyak beach I like the Legian. I prefer the regular rooms over the villas because I like the balconies and the ocean views. This is a very stylish, well run property with a well kept beach and spacious grounds. I’ve tried just about every resort in south Bali and this is the one that I keep coming back to.

I’m quite fond of the Four Seasons in Jimbaran as well. It’s built on the side of a cliff with paths leading down to the sea. The individual villas with private plunge pools set the standard for this aesthetic for many years. Jimbaran beach itself is as I said above slowly disappearing. You get the sunsets, but otherwise it’s meager.

Another beach alternative that I would HIGHLY recommend is the Amankila which is about two hours from the airport up the east coast. The Amankila is totally isolated, on a cliff with a splendid view of the sea. They have electric cars that take you to a private swimming beach. Black sand and scorchingly hot, but still charming. The architecture is superb, villas on the cliff side and the pools are stunning.

You should definitely spend a few days in Central Bali in the Ubud area. This is Bali’s great heart and the center for arts, crafts, performing arts, magic and mysticism. You can go as deep as you like in exploring this complex and definitely still living culture. There are zillions of places to stay in Ubud. Some of the best are along the Ayung River with views overlooking the river valley. I don’t have a number one, but I like the suites at the Alila Ubud.

What to do depends on what you like to do. One of the great strengths of Bali is the diversity of experience – shopping, spa-ing, dining, swimming, surfing, sailing, rafting, trekking, birding; exploring mountains, volcanoes, villages, caves, waterfalls, museums; attending dances, festivals, religious rites. Or just wandering through the rice paddies or staring out to sea.

I would second the idea of trying to spend a few days in Central Java. You can fly from Denpasar to Yogyakarta. Borobudur is an 8th century Buddhist monument that is worth the trip. There’s a wonderful hotel nearby – the Amanjiwo and the area is historically interesting and naturally beautiful. The town itself is tiresome but there are a lot of options for cultural sightseeing and adventure travel.

I don’t know how to address your question about safety. The answer lies in your own comfort level. You have to be careful about your possessions, but violent crime is extremely rare anywhere in Indonesia. Yes, there have been terrible terrorist attacks and like many other tourists destinations in the world, it may happen again, but the chance of your being inconvenienced or heavenforbid harmed by a terrorist action is extremely low. Having said that you certainly don’t want to be nervous on your honeymoon, so it’s a personal consideration.

marmot

This is the Legian at Seminyak. There's another Legian so it can be confusing.
http://www.ghmhotels.com/hotels/hote...p;section=home

Bokhara

Hi Hanker,
I go to Bali quite often and love it for it's diversity, the people, culture, scenery & more. It's a very popular place for weddings & honeymoons, and I think you would have a wonderful 12 days there. And probably drag your feet on the way back to the airport going home

I don't stay in "resort compounds" though, like those in Nusa Dua where they are a world apart you're isolated from the real Bali. There are lots of options, from luxury villas, to more modest places, of staying somewhere lovely which will allow you to soak up the atmosphere of Bali. These days, I stay at a friend's apartment at Legian and with some other friends in Lovina & Ubud.

If you look at www.balitravelforum.com, you'll find extremely helpful people, and lots of JBRs (Just Back Reports) which will give you some ideas. I think it's the best travel forum on Bali and have had some fantastic help from people who contribute to it.

It's very easy & economical to hire a driver for day trips - you'll see lots of recommendations for 2 or 3 particularly good ones on the balitravelforum.

As others have said, a good guidebook & a map will be a great aid & get your head around the locations, distances etc.

MichaelBKK

Personally, I think I'd take the Samaya over the Legian in Seminyak if I had the money, but that's a matter of taste. I would definitely choose Seminyak over Jimbaran. Although, I wonder if you can get a deal with 4S by staying at both properties for your whole trip.

Do consider one other place in Indonesia for your trip. Borobodur and Prambanan are fantastic sights a little more than an hour away from Bali by plane. It'd be a shame to come all that way and miss them. I think Silk Air (Singapore Air's regional carrier) flies in and out of Solo or Yogya, so you wouldn't necessarily have to back track.